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If you want to be sure if your ray is pregnant their is only one way to be sure and that is with an ultrasound. The vet uses the same device as a gynecologist would use when making an ultrasound of a baby. The problem with stingrays is that they don't lie still when you ask them. This is why they are slightly sedated performing this research. The breeding is very relaxed and the ray is easy to handle. All pictures on this part of the site are from Inge Ligthelm and the scans where possible thanks to Rob Heijmans who is specialized in koi's and lately also in rays.
The motoro is slightly sedated and turned on it's back. I want to say in forehand that the animal does not suffer from this research. When put back in the tank after one minute she swims away. You can see the size of this lady compared to the adult mail hand of the vet. Below you see the pictures this research delivered.
It is hard to see if you don't know what you are looking for. This is a ultrasound made in the surroundings of the womb of the female. In the middle of the picture you see the spine and on the left the hipbones of the pup. The tail ain 't visible.
This picture shows a pup from behind. The white spot in the middle is the tail from the pup. Looking down the tail you cab clearly see the surroundings of a little ray.
The nerves surrounding the womb.
The black spots which look like graves are follicles ( Someone tell me the correct English please). These are the eggs of the female waiting to be fertilize This explains why the female can get pregnant write after giving berth.
On the picture above you can see the disk size of the pup inside the womb. This one is 2,37 cm ( 0,9"). The biggest pup in the womb was 3,5 cm (1,4"). The pups have an age of 8 weeks. This is a little less than half off the expected pregnancy.
Below you see the same pictures as above (click to enlarge). I pointed with a red line where to look at the pictures to clarify things.
